Difficulty: ModerateHigh Tatras
Czarny Staw pod Rysami
Start: Palenica Białczańska · via Views of Morskie Oko from above and The shadow of Rysy and Kazalnica
- 5:54 h
- Time
- 19.1 km
- Distance
- +819 m
- Ascent
Difficulty: ModerateHigh Tatrashigh tatraspanoramalakefitness
Zawrat from Five Lakes
2158 m a.s.l. · trail red / green / blue · start: Palenica Białczańska
High-altitude conditionsBulletin as of 3 listopada 2026
Official TPN bulletinSnow and ice reported in upper Tatras. Crampons, ice axe, helmet and winter mountaineering experience required.
Bulletin details
Warunki do uprawiania turystyki w wyższych partiach Tatr są bardzo trudne. Na szlakach zalega śnieg i występują liczne oblodzenia. Jest bardzo ślisko. Wybierając się tam, należy posiadać doświadczenie w zimowej turystyce górskiej oraz odpowiedni sprzęt – lawinowe ABC, raki, czekan i kask, wraz z umiejętnością posługiwania się nim. Poślizgnięcie się na lodzie lub zmrożonym śniegu, może skończyć się długim, niekontrolowanym upadkiem, prowadzącym do ciężkich obrażeń lub śmierci.
PolecanyFrom Palenica via Five Lakes
- Wysokość
- 2158 m a.s.l.
- Dystans
- 11.3 km
- Czas przejścia
- 4 h 45 min
- Suma podejść
- 1265 m
- Start
- Palenica Białczańska
- Meta
- Zawrat
Czas i dystans tylko do celu. Zejście licz osobno.
Tempo
4 h 45 minSzacunek od czasu z opisu, bez kolejek i postojów.
- medium
- red
- green
- blue
- High Tatras
- Dla rodzin: Nie
- Z psem: Nie
- 32 zdjęcia
- Ślad GPX (.gpx)
Warianty wejścia
Polecany jest na tej stronie. Inny start ma osobną kartę — własny opis i mapę.
| Wariant | Start | Czas przejścia | Łańcuchy | Kolor szlaku |
|---|---|---|---|---|
From Palenica via Five LakesPolecany Roztoka, the hut, blue to the pass. The map shows this climb. Count the descent separately. No chains. | Palenica Białczańska | 4 h 45 min | Nie |
|
From Hala Gąsienicowa The harder side. Separate page, a traverse into Five Lakes. Zobacz ten szlak → | Kuźnice | 8 h 34 min | TakNew Zawrat. Gully, rungs, falling stones. |
|
Polecany
From Palenica via Five Lakes
Roztoka, the hut, blue to the pass. The map shows this climb. Count the descent separately. No chains.
Mapa i profil trasy
From Palenica via Five Lakes
Profil wysokościowy trasy
Wykres podejść wygenerowany ze śladu GPX. Przesuń kursor lub palec po wykresie, aby sprawdzić profil podejścia i punkty kulminacyjne.
GPX · 11.11 km
Punkt kulminacyjny
2158m n.p.m.
przy 11.11 km
Najniższy punkt
984m n.p.m.
Podejścia (suma)
+1277m
Zejścia (suma)
-103m
Dystans profilu
11.11km
Ślad GPX do nawigacji
Wgraj trasę do zegarka sportowego (Garmin, Coros, Suunto, Apple Watch) lub aplikacji nawigacyjnej (Mapy.cz, Komoot, Locus Map, Strava) i nawiguj po szlaku w trybie offline bez zasięgu.
Kompatybilność:GarminCorosSuuntoApple WatchMapy.czKomootStrava
Jak wgrać plik GPX?
- Kliknij przycisk „Pobierz ślad GPX”, aby zapisać plik .gpx na telefonie lub komputerze.
- Otwórz plik w aplikacji Garmin Connect, Coros, Suunto, Mapy.cz, Komoot lub wyślij na zegarek GPS.
- Zapisz trasę w trybie offline, aby w Tatrach nawigować pewnie i bez obaw o brak zasięgu sieci komórkowej.
Zawrat (2,158 m a.s.l.) is a legendary pass associated with chains, precipices, and the start of Orla Perć. But there is a catch: Zawrat has two sides.
💡 In a nutshell – Zawrat from Five Lakes:
- No chains: The approach via the blue trail from the Valley of Five Lakes has no artificial aids and no major exposure.
- Demanding fitness: It’s a long route (over 11 km one way from Palenica). The climb from the hut in Five Lakes alone takes approx. 2 hours.
- Descent: The safest way is to return the same way. Descending towards Hala Gąsienicowa means a steep gully with chains (often snow-covered until July).
- Orla Perć: Zawrat is the start of the hardest trail in Poland. Do not treat entering Orla as a spontaneous extension of your trip!
If you climb to the pass from the Valley of Five Lakes (blue trail), you will not encounter a single chain on your way! This is the perfect variant for people who want to feel the atmosphere of the high mountains but are paralyzed by the fear of rock climbing.
Trail description: High mountains without climbing
The figures at the top of the page show the parameters of the ascent itself from Palenica Białczańska to the pass (11.3 km one way).
Stage 1: Through Roztoka to Five Lakes
We start at Palenica Białczańska. We walk along the tarmac to Wodogrzmoty Mickiewicza, where we turn onto the green trail into the Roztoka Valley. After about 2.5 hours of walking, we reach the Valley of Five Lakes. This is a great place to rest before the main ascent.
Stage 2: Towards the rock walls
From the hut, we follow the blue trail, passing successive lakes. The path rises gently along the valley floor. We pass the turn-offs for Szpiglas Pass and Kozi Wierch, consistently sticking to the blue markers.
Stage 3: Approach to Zawrat (A fitness test)
At the end of the valley, the trail starts to climb sharply up over stone scree, right under the massive walls of Świnica.
- No chains: The approach is steep, long, and exhausting, but there are no technical difficulties here. There is no exposure (precipices under your feet).
- With every metre up, the view of the Valley of Five Lakes becomes more and more spectacular.
On the pass: Two worlds
Zawrat is a narrow crack in the rock (you will find the famous figure of the Virgin Mary here). The view from the pass is an incredible contrast:
- To the south: The sun-drenched Valley of Five Lakes, from which we just came.
- To the north: A dark, steep gully dropping into the Gąsienicowa Valley (this is the famous “New Zawrat” with chains).
Warning: What next? (Do not go onto Orla!)
From Zawrat you have three return options:
- Descent the same way to Five Lakes: The safest and most logical option (especially if you have a car at Palenica).
- Descent to Hala Gąsienicowa: Warning! This is a difficult, steep gully secured with chains. Hard, dangerous snow lingers in it until mid-summer.
- Entering Orla Perć (red trail): We absolutely advise against treating Orla Perć as an “add-on” to your trip! The section from Zawrat to Kozi Wierch is one-way, extremely difficult, and highly exposed.
Who this is absolutely NOT for?
Do not go to Zawrat if reaching the hut in Five Lakes drained all your strength – you still have almost 2 hours of sharp climbing from the hut. Remember too that this is not a “walk in the valley” – in the event of a storm on the pass, there is nowhere to hide, and lightning strikes here extremely often. If you only want to see the lakes, stick to the variant to the Valley of Five Lakes itself.
Getting there, parking & buses
Trailhead logistics – reach the start smoothly without parking hassle.
Trailhead:Palenica Białczańska
Parking & car access
TPN online reservation required (e-ticket)
TPN Car Park Palenica Białczańska / Łysa Polana
Parking fee: 45–65 PLN / day (seasonal dynamic pricing via tpn.pl/bilety only)
No on-site ticket sales! QR e-tickets must be booked online in advance via tpn.pl. During peak season, slots sell out days ahead. Cars without booking are turned away at the roundabout.
Bus & transit access
Buses from Zakopane Station (towards Morskie Oko)
Route & bus stop: Main Station (Platform 1) ➔ Cyrhla ➔ Wierch Poroniec ➔ Palenica Białczańska
Fare: ~15–20 PLN one-way
Departures every 10–15 min from early morning. CAUTION on return: last buses from Palenica leave around 19:30–20:30 depending on season. Miss them, and you will need an expensive taxi.
Local buses and transit help bypass morning traffic and parking hassles.
Transport guide in the Tips section
Complete guide to Tatra car parks, buses, and TPN reservations.
Tool
🎒 What to pack? Interactive checklist
Check off items as you pack, switch between summer/winter and clear the list before your next trip. Progress is saved automatically.
What you will see
- Siklawa on the way
- Wielki Staw Polski
- The Virgin Mary of Zawrat figure
- Five Lakes from the pass
Photos from the trail
Questions
Are there chains from Five Lakes to Zawrat?
No. The blue trail from the valley to the pass has no chains and no rungs. The chains are on the other side, from Hala Gąsienicowa — that is a separate page.
How long from Palenica?
The climb to the pass is 11.3 km and 4 h 45 min on the map. Count the same way down separately: back to Palenica is a full day, not a “quick hop to the pass”.
Should I go onto Orla from Zawrat?
No. Orla from Zawrat to Kozi Wierch is one-way, with chains and exposure. This page ends at the pass. Orla has its own page.
Where do I park?
Palenica Białczańska. Full in the morning in season. TPN ticket at the gate or online. Tarmac to Wodogrzmoty, then Roztoka — not via Morskie Oko.
Which side of Zawrat is easier?
This one. From Five Lakes there is almost no technique. From Gąsienicowa there is a gully, rungs and snow until July. If someone in the group has never used chains — start here, not from Czarny Staw.
Newsletter
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Next trail in this area
Planning your next hike? From the same starting point and area, we recommend:
#high tatras#fitness#lake
Przełęcz Krzyżne
Krzyżne Pass from Palenica via the Five Lakes Valley, down the Pańszczyca Valley to Kuźnice: 20.9 km, 9 h 25 min, no chains. A famous High Tatras panorama.
⏱️ 9 h 25 min📏 20.9 km🎯 difficult (physically)
View trailSimilar trails
Difficulty: ModerateWestern TatrasKasprowy Wierch via Gąsienicowa
Start: Kuźnice · via Murowaniec hut and Hala Gąsienicowa
- 4:01 h
- Time
- 7.6 km
- Distance
- +1056 m
- Ascent
- Difficulty: ModerateHigh Tatras
Szpiglasowy Wierch (via Ceprostrada)
Start: Palenica Białczańska · via Views of Morskie Oko and Five Lakes at once and Szpiglas Pass
- 9:03 h
- Time
- 24.9 km
- Distance
- +1544 m
- Ascent
Read also
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Do you dream of “real”, sharp, rocky mountains, but the thought of exposure and chains makes your legs shake? Here’s a list of summits you’ll reach like climbing stairs — without climbing gear.
gearDo you need a helmet in the Tatras? Without the guesswork
Do you need a helmet in the Tatras? See which trails it protects your head on, when it is a sensible choice, and why it does not replace judging the conditions before you leave.
Plan your trip
Where to stay - Bukowina TatrzańskaThe closest base for this trail. Check availability and prices in Bukowina Tatrzańska.Find a place to stay →Tickets and activitiesCable cars, thermal baths, transfers and guided trips nearby.Browse offers →
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Before you head to the mountains
- Check the weather forecast, mountain weather changes dynamically
- Match the trail to your abilities, don't overestimate your strength
- Take appropriate equipment: comfortable hiking boots, rain jacket, warm clothing, map, charged phone, first aid kit, power bank, food and water
- Inform someone about your plans, provide the route and expected return time
- Save the emergency number GOPR/TOPR, 601 100 300 or 985
- Buy a ticket to the Tatra National Park